Savoy Computing Services - Swept Path Analysis, Vehicle Turn Simulation, Vehicle Movement Prediction and Vehicle Clearance Software

Savoy Computing have led the development of swept path analysis, vehicle turn simulation, vehicle movement prediction and vehicle clearance software since the late seventies. AutoTrack for highway design is the culmination of a constant stream of innovative solutions that have consistently provided engineers and planners with the most powerful vehicle turn simulation system available.

Uniquely available as a stand-alone system, AutoTrack for highway design also includes parking layout tools and vertical vehicle clearance checking, and links seamlessly with its sister programs, AutoTrack for light rail and AutoTrack for airport design.

Swept path analysis / generator

Savoy provide a swept path generator for swept path analysis. Use the renowned AutoTrack algorithms to generate accurate swept paths. It generates swept paths very quickly, allowing 'what-if' type swept path analysis.

Vehicle turn simulation software with dynamic editing option

AutoTrack features six ways to generate vehicle manoeuvres. AutoDrive is a point-and-click vehicle turn simulation system that was invented by Savoy Computing in 1999 and was so successful that it set the precedent for subsequent simulation software. AutoDrive arc models smooth arc turns whilst AutoDrive bearing models corner turns, both with interactive control over turn radius, angle and model settings. Users can even model side and exit overturns.

AutoDrive vehicle turn simulation software also uniquely features a dynamic editing option which allows users to adjust any part of the path alignment, including overturns, after the model has been created. A further four modes allow users to drive the vehicle interactively using the mouse, follow a predefined line, run a script of commands or check vertical clearance.

Vehicle movement prediction

Advantages of our vehicle movement prediction software include:

• Two vehicle editors: built-in vehicle creation and editing facilities allow similar vehicles to be copied and then edited but also prevents the user from editing base library vehicles
• Scale vehicle diagram: an enhanced true scale, dimensioned vehicle diagram is presented for all vehicles including user-defined vehicles; the diagram can be inserted in the drawing

Comprehensive vehicle library and editor

AutoTrack vehicle turn simulation system is supplied with the national design vehicles of many countries including the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries. All libraries are password-protected to prevent unintentional changes.

Two vehicle editors allow users to create and edit more types of vehicle than any other system. It can model nine different axle types including Ackerman, fixed, drawbar (two types), pendel, single pivot bogies, multiple pivot bogies, nosewheel, steering undercarriage and fixed undercarriage.

In addition it can model angle and speed related steering linkages, partial, full or limited self-steering and retracted axles. It can even model vehicles steered by a hydraulically adjusted articulation point. These are just some of the reasons why the AutoTrack vehicle turn simulation system was chosen to model the Airbus A380 wing transporter.

Powerful and flexible reporting options

The power and flexibility of AutoTrack’s reporting is second to none. The report wizard keeps report creation and editing fast and easy, yet allows unlimited named reports to be defined. Display named reports individually or combine them as the situation requires. The fully customisable graphical plot allows for detailed analysis.

2D and 3D real-time animation

When a static image doesn’t have the required impact there’s 2D animation and when that’s not enough users can switch to 3D. The real-time animation can incorporate pauses to represent events such as loading or unloading, start delays, acceleration and deceleration and can be fully annotated.

In 3D mode users can set up and switch between multiple named cameras including the drivers-eye view of any path. The resulting real-time animation, be it 2D or 3D, can be saved to AVI movie file, a format that can be viewed on a standard PC without special software. AutoTrack comes complete with the highly efficient XviD compression codec for file size management.

Integrated parking layout tools

The AutoTrack vehicle turn simulation system is unique in having integrated parking layout tools that allows parking areas to be designed quickly and easily. Built-in standards with a full editing facility allows complete definition of bay styles including bay angles, markings, symbols, text and colours, as well as special features such as privacy posts, wheel stops and meters.

With the parking layout tool, rows can be quickly placed by snapping to existing objects, and parallel rows with automatic end detailing can also be easily created. A dynamically updated report keeps track of the numbers and proportions of each bay type.

Vertical vehicle clearance checking

The vertical vehicle clearance tool, also unique to AutoTrack, lets users check any vehicle for ground clearance and overhead impacts with a single button click, making it ideal for low bridges, car park accesses and ramps.